LUFTWAFFE'S FORGOTTEN JET FIGHTER

摘要

By September 1944, Germany was on the back foot in the war and looking for wonder weapons to turn the tide. On September 10, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM-Air Ministry) issued a requirement for an emergency lightweight fighter to be powered by the new BMW 003 turbojet. This engine had yet to be tried on other jet aircraft. Of the eight companies approached to produce what was called the Volksjager (People's Fighter), Heinkel was the successful manufacturer with its He 162. In addition to the engine, the RLM's specification called for the aircraft to be capable of 466mph (750km/h) at sea level with a take-off run of 1,870ft (600m). It had to be constructed from non-essential materials (such as wood) and be able to be mass-produced at the optimistic rate of 1,000 per month. The RLM also specified what armament was to be carried and that it should be available by the start of January 1945.